Rescue workers neared the end of the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared areas down to bare earth and claimed 24 lives, including nine children.

More than 90 people are feared dead, including 20 children, after a huge tornado ripped through an Oklahoma town destroying scores of homes and a primary school.

A monstrous tornado at least a half a mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening neighbourhoods and destroying a school as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200mph.

A line of violent thunderstorms roared across middle America, killing six people in two states, with several tornadoes touching down in Oklahoma and high winds pounding rural Kansas.